Chapter 16: Hidden Growth and Whispers on the Wire
Chapter 16: Hidden Growth and Whispers on the Wire
The Ascension Heaven V0.2 update was a resounding success – for Ran, at least. The vastly expanded world and improved performance acted like rocket fuel for player numbers. Thousands logged in daily, explorers charting the new territories, guilds clashing over resource nodes, and dedicated cultivators practicing the surprisingly potent basic techniques in the slightly richer Qi environment.
And every quest completed, every Grumbling Boar-Ox slain, every Glimmering Ore Vein mined sent a cascade of pure Bio-Energy Dividends flowing directly into Ran.
It was overwhelming. The gentle stream he'd enjoyed from the initial QL testers became a roaring flood. His dantian felt constantly full, buzzing with power. His Grade 3 Root worked overtime, absorbing and refining the energy at an astonishing rate. His Enhanced Comprehension allowed him to process the cultivation insights flooding his mind alongside the raw energy.
Within a week of the V0.2 launch, Ran's cultivation didn't just advance – it skyrocketed. He blasted through the remaining levels of Qi Condensation Stage 3 like they were minor speed bumps. The bottleneck to Stage 4, which should have taken months or even years of dedicated effort for someone with his apparent talent, crumbled before the relentless tide of Dividends.
He reached Qi Condensation Stage 4 (Mid), then pushed rapidly towards Stage 4 (High). The sheer density of Qi swirling within him was intoxicating, a stark contrast to the pathetic trickle he'd struggled with just weeks ago.
[Host Unit Cultivation Advancement Detected!]
[Current Realm: Qi Condensation - Stage 4 (High)]
[System Recommendation: Maybe take a walk? Touch some real grass? Just kidding, keep absorbing that sweet, sweet energy. More players = More power!]
This hidden acceleration, however, came with its own set of problems. Namely, hiding it.
The [Shadow Veil - Rank 1] skill did its job, mostly. It clouded perceptions, making him appear to be somewhere in the low-to-mid Stage 2 range to casual observation. But maintaining the facade, especially around Master Thorne and his increasingly perceptive father, was becoming a serious chore.
During lessons, Thorne would now comment on Ran's "remarkable Qi control" even when Ran was actively trying to seem clumsy. Thorne attributed it to Ran's "profound theoretical understanding," but Ran could see the lingering suspicion in the old tutor's eyes. Containing the sheer presence of a Stage 4 cultivator required constant, conscious effort, like trying to hold water in cupped hands. Sometimes, a ripple of power would almost escape, forcing Ran to feign a cough or stumble to mask the fluctuation.
"Your focus is improving dramatically, Young Master," Thorne remarked during one sparring session, after Ran (despite trying not to) effortlessly deflected a probe Thorne had intended to push him. "But sometimes… your energy feels deeper than your current level suggests. Are you perhaps practicing secret techniques?"
"Just diligently applying your teachings, Master Thorne!" Ran replied with forced brightness, mentally cursing the [Preternatural Combat Awareness] that made effortless defense almost unavoidable. This is exhausting. Pretending to be weak is harder work than actually getting stronger.
The System, in its own quirky way, seemed to pick up on subtle societal shifts caused by thousands of people experiencing Ascension Heaven's reality-bending effects. Ran had activated a passive 'World News Digest (Anomalies Filtered)' function on his Omni-Console, mostly out of curiosity about whether his game was making any noticeable waves he needed to worry about. Usually, it was filled with boring economic reports or minor political squabbles. Lately, however, odd snippets had started appearing:
[Item]: Minor property damage incidents show localized spikes near internet cafes and public VR hubs in several major cities. Reports mention smashed equipment, broken windows. Authorities tentatively attribute incidents to "Extreme VR Rage" or "isolated acts of youthful vandalism." Investigations ongoing, low priority.
[Item]: Several major insurance providers quietly update home and contents policies. Buried deep in the fine print of updated clauses: vague references to "Virtual Activity Hazard Exclusions" or "Damages Arising from Non-Standard Neurological Feedback." Legal analysts dismiss as standard corporate risk mitigation.
[Item]: Obscured, shaky video clip briefly goes viral on regional networks before being flagged as 'likely digitally altered'. Titled "Crazy Delivery Guy!", it shows what appears to be a courier performing an impossibly long jump between two rooftops while carrying a package. Debunked by popular 'fact-check' streamers as clever editing or a wire-stunt.
Ran skimmed these reports with detached interest. Were these… echoes? Side effects of thousands of people experiencing the game's heightened reality and subtle Qi feedback? Plausible. Concerning? Only mildly.
He ran a quick analysis through the System. Probability of these incidents being directly traced back to Ascension Heaven's origins or 'Ascension Heaven LLC': Currently Low (<0.5%). Probability of triggering significant investigation targeting the source: Minimal.
His conclusion was swift and pragmatic. As long as these were just background ripples, minor statistical noise that didn't point back to him or threaten the game's operation (and thus his Dividend flow), they were irrelevant. Interesting data points for future risk assessment, perhaps, but not worth actively worrying about now.
He closed the news digest. His focus remained internal: consolidating his Stage 4 power, planning the next steps for his game (perhaps introducing a new challenge to keep the high-level players busy?), and managing the increasingly tiresome task of pretending to be the Clan Heir Who Was Only Moderately Less Disappointing Than Before. The wider world could handle its own weirdness, as long as it didn't interrupt his progress.